Insulating glass unit with illumination device

Abstract

An insulating glass unit (10) is formed from a plurality of transparent layers (16, 18, 20), in which at least one illuminable panel (20) is arranged between at least two mineral glass panels (16, 18). The mineral glass panels (16, 18) are held at a defined distance from one another by at least one spacer element (14). The illuminable panel (20) is held at least on one longitudinal marginal edge (24) by the spacer element (14). The spacer element (14) is formed by at least one hollow profile (15), which preferably comprises a plurality of adjoining hollow chambers (26, 28). The outer mineral glass panels (16, 18) each adjoins at least two lateral surfaces of the hollow profile (15). The illuminable panel (20) rests on or against the intermediate hollow chamber (28). An illumination element (32) is arranged within the intermediate hollow chamber (28).

I claim: 
     
       1. An insulating glass unit ( 10 ) comprising at least one illuminable panel ( 20 ) made of a transparent material arranged between at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ), wherein the mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) are held at a distance from one another by at least one spacer element ( 14 ), wherein the illuminable panel ( 20 ) is held or supported at least on one longitudinal marginal edge ( 24 ) by the spacer element ( 14 ), the spacer element ( 14 ) is formed by at least one hollow profile ( 15 ), the hollow profile ( 15 ) comprises a plurality of hollow chambers ( 26 ,  28 ), wherein the at least two outer mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) each adjoins and/or bears against at least two lateral surfaces of the hollow profile ( 15 ), and wherein the illuminable panel ( 20 ) rests on or against an intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ), the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) is connected by material bridges ( 30 ) to at least two lateral hollow chambers ( 26 ) that are spaced apart from one another, wherein at least one illumination element ( 32 ) is arranged within the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ), the illumination element ( 32 ) illuminates the marginal edge ( 24 ) or radiates into the marginal edge ( 24 ) in an activated state, and wherein an interior space of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) together with the at least one illumination element ( 32 ) located therein is sealed or sealable in a gas-tight manner, or wherein at least one internal space ( 22 ) located between the at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) is sealed or sealable in a gas-tight manner against the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ). 
     
     
       2. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the interior space of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) together with the at least one illumination element ( 32 ) located therein is sealed off in a gas-tight manner with respect to an internal space ( 22 ) located between the at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) and/or in which it is sealed off in a gas-tight manner with respect to an insulated first section located between one of the at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) and the illuminable panel ( 20 ) or with respect to an insulated second section located between the respective other of the at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) and the illuminable panel ( 20 ). 
     
     
       3. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) forms a cooling profile or a cooling body ( 34 ) or accommodates such a cooling profile or such a cooling body ( 34 ) within its interior space. 
     
     
       4. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the illumination element ( 32 ) is connected to a support surface of the cooling profile or the cooling body ( 34 ) via a heat-transferring layer ( 35 ), which support surface is facing the illuminable panel ( 20 ). 
     
     
       5. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the cooling body ( 34 ) accommodated in the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) together with the at least one illumination element ( 32 ) connected thereto or mounted thereon is of modular construction. 
     
     
       6. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the modular construction can be removed from or inserted into the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) through an opening located at a front side of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ). 
     
     
       7. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 6 , wherein the opening can be closed in a gas-tight manner. 
     
     
       8. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the modular constructional construction is mounted or mountable within the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) interchangeable or displaceable in the longitudinal direction or removable therefrom. 
     
     
       9. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one illumination element ( 32 ) rests on or against a side of the cooling profile or the cooling body ( 34 ), facing the marginal edge ( 24 ). 
     
     
       10. The insulating glass unit ( 10 )  claim 9 , wherein the cooling profile or the cooling body ( 34 ) is formed by a continuous bar or an interrupted bar, which bar is accommodated in the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) or forms part of this intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ). 
     
     
       11. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the bar forming the cooling profile or the cooling body ( 34 ) is a bar profiled in cross-section. 
     
     
       12. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 11 , wherein the bar forming the cooling profile or cooling body ( 34 ) is in heat-transferring contact with at least one inner side surface of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ). 
     
     
       13. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein inner sides of the at least two lateral hollow chambers ( 26 ), facing the illuminable panel ( 20 ) and are having opposing or parallel surfaces, together with an upper side ( 38 ) of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) form a receptacle ( 52 ) for the illuminable panel ( 20 ). 
     
     
       14. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the illuminable panel ( 20 ) is in positive contact with an upper side ( 38 ) of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) via a transparent film strip ( 40 ). 
     
     
       15. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the transparent film strip ( 40 ) closes off the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) in a gas-tight manner. 
     
     
       16. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the illuminable panel ( 20 ) is in positive contact with the inner sides of the lateral hollow chambers ( 26 ) via lateral damping layers. 
     
     
       17. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein an upper side ( 38 ) of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) comprises recesses ( 41 ) that allow the passage of electromagnetic light radiation into the illuminable panel ( 20 ), the electromagnetic light radiation is emitted by the illumination element ( 32 ). 
     
     
       18. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 17 , wherein the recesses ( 41 ) are arranged at regular distances from one another in a longitudinal direction of the spacer element ( 14 ). 
     
     
       19. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hollow profile ( 15 ) is formed by a non-metallic material. 
     
     
       20. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one hollow profile ( 15 ) is formed by a plastic extrusion material or a fiber-reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
       21. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two lateral hollow chambers ( 26 ) has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       22. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) is smaller than the distance between the at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ). 
     
     
       23. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) comprises about 30% to about 80% of the distance between the at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ). 
     
     
       24. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the intermediate hollow chamber ( 28 ) and the distance between the at least two mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) is approximately equal. 
     
     
       25. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein one or more lateral spacers ( 46 ) are located between the mineral glass panels ( 16 ,  18 ) and the at least two lateral hollow chambers ( 26 ). 
     
     
       26. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the entire profile ( 15 ) is formed by a metal extrusion profile, in particular an aluminum extrusion profile. 
     
     
       27. The insulating glass unit ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least outer mineral glass panel ( 16 ,  18 ) adjoins and/or bears against one of the at least two lateral hollow chambers ( 26 ).